THE BOOKTUBEATHON IS FINALLY HERE!!!!! Nothing is more exciting in the summer than read-a-thon season! The BookTubeAThon is a yearly read-a-thon hosted by the lovely Ariel Bissett over on YouTube. It is an event that brings together book lovers and reviewers on all platform across the interwebs, including BookTubers, Bookstagrammers, and the fabulous bloggers on Twitter (who up until now I haven't realized are nameless nomads. Don't worry, Twitter peoples, you are loved nonetheless!). It is a time where everyone can join in on united reading through Twitter sprints and YouTube and Instagram challenges for all to participate in. If you want to participate and are looking for where to start, click play on the video below for all the details!

       Here are this year's reading challenges! I try not to plan which book goes to which challenge, only the ones that are book specific. Otherwise, I will update you guys at the end of the week on which books I did to complete each challenge.

1. ​Read a book with a person on the cover.
2. Read a hyped book.
3. Finish a book in one day.
4. Read about a character that is very different from you.
5. Finish a book completely outdoors.
6. Read a book you bought because of the cover.
7. Read seven books.

       I hope you choose to participate in the BookTubeAThon this year! If you do, let me know in the comments, and be sure to follow my challenge entries on Instagram and my contributions to the Twitter sprints. I'm @the_bookinsider both places!

As she glues her butt to a chair for the next week,
​Ashton

       Caro decides to take her future into her own hands when her father is arrested for refusing to transport a mysterious crate. By agreeing to deliver it in exchange for his release, Caro finds herself caught in a web of politics and lies, with dangerous pirates after the cargo—an arrogant courier with a secret—and without the river god to help her. With so much at stake, Caro must choose between the life she always wanted and the one she never could have imagined for herself.

       I received Song of the Current in the June Uppercase Box and was really excited to delve into it. It sounded like something that I had never read in the young adult genre. When I got into it, I realized it wasn't really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
       The book started off with a bunch of exciting events all right in a row. (Okay, watching your father get thrown in prison and a beloved dock burn isn't exactly "exciting", but you get what I mean.) These first 50 pages or so really got me excited for a fast-paced action novel. But after the beginning, the story slowed down quite a bit, which I wasn't expecting at all. Sure, there were a few major events here and there, but the action-y bits scattered throughout the book were very short and sweet. The story didn't really pick back up until the very end. (And all I can say about the end of the book without spoiling anything is that it is fantastic. Totally worth sticking out the slow bits.)
       Even though parts of the book were slow, I fell in love with the characters. Every single character that was introduced had a purpose and a story all their own. I love that Sarah Toclser didn't throw around characters and put in unnecessary extras just for the sake of it. The best part, however, is how deep Caro gets throughout the story. At first, she just starts out as an unassuming wherryman who hopes to become a captain. Throughout the story, her layers start to peel back, and just when you think you know everything, something unexpected is revealed, and as the reader, you are forced to start thinking something completely different.
       I also just want to touch on the fact that the world that Caro lives in is so interesting and unique. The mythology that surrounds the rivers and the details that go into describing it are creative. I also have to bow down to Sarah Toclser for a minute because of the way she describes the boating aspects. They are amazing. It is so clear that she knows and loves what she's talking about, and it comes across so well through Caro.

       Overall, this book was just an okay read for me, but I've heard countless people swoon over it. Hopefully you will like this book more than me, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

From her vacation,
Ashton

       I absolutely adored this book. Everything from the characters to the writing style really made this book an entertaining read. It was light, big-hearted, but it also made me stop and think. The way that Will and other blind people live their lives is so foreign to most of our society, and the idea that someone would have to learn how to see is something I would've never imagined. Josh Sundquist put together a beautiful and hilarious story that really captivated me.
       First off, I have to give props to the amazing Josh Sundquist for another spectacular read. If you didn't already know, this is his second book, his first being a nonfiction novel about his life as someone who has had their leg amputated from the hip. It is hilarious and sweet, just an all around awesome read. I was so excited to hear that he was coming out with another book, and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. (Seriously though, if you haven't read either of his books, you should get on that. Anyway, back to the review!)
       Overall, the characters and the way in which they interacted was wonderful. Will was a fantastic main character, and I will touch on that in a second. What I was really fond of was that every single one of the minor characters had their own vivid personality and every one of them played a part in the story. I feel like that is super important, especially for a shorter novel like this one. There weren't a lot of side characters that were there for the sake of it. I thought it helped simplify the story and move it along.
       I loved the descriptions and writing style. There were so many moments that were very thoughtful and helped me understand more of what kind of life Will lives. One of the best moments (spoiler free, by the way) in the entire book was when will and Cecily go to the art showcase and she attempts to describe to him what the paintings look like and what emotion they are trying to convey. Little moments like that throughout the book were what really made me fall in love with it.
       Of course, I have to mention the fact that Will is now one of my all-time favorite narrators. His humor and hope really drive the plot for me. Even though we are very different, I felt like I knew him and his situation, and related to it quite a bit. I loved how he didn't let a whole lot of things bother him when they could have. Being a 16-year-old kid in high school isn't easy, and I can't imagine what hardships blindness brings to the table. But Will made it easy for me to understand where he is coming from, and nothing wins me over in a book like a relatable narrator.

       This is a great book if you're looking for a quick, hilarious read this summer. Have you read it? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

As she looks at life with a new perspective,
Ashton

       I absolutely LOVE the book community on Instagram. There are great books, great people, and most of all, great photos! If you are looking to start a bookstagram, or just wanting to post a picture of the book you're #currentlyreading, here are some tips on how to edit your pictures.

       Now, before we start going to town, we need to prep for our bookstagram photo shoot. Make sure if you are taking your photos inside, you take them where there is a lot of natural light. I am fortunate enough to have a sun porch in my house that provides the perfect place to take my pictures, but you can take your pictures any place with lots of light. Windows, doors, and the hole in your roof are all perfect for natural light.
       You also want to make sure the background of your photo is in order. If you're taking your picture in your bedroom or in front of a bookshelf, make sure that everything behind the focus of the picture is pleasing as well. Nobody and I mean nobody wants to see your dirty laundry on the floor behind your current read.
​       Tips for taking great photos:

• Having a (semi-) consistent theme, where all of your pictures look nice together makes your page look very professional and cohesive.
• Make sure your background doesn't distract from the focus of the photo. A busy background can take away from your whole picture.
• Get creative! Use random knick-knacks from around the house, clothing items, your body, your friend's body, and create something new. If you start building things out of books, good things will happen.

       I'm going to show you the steps I use when I edit my pictures, but keep in mind that all photos are not equal. Your photos may start out a little darker or brighter than mine, or they might already be as sharp as possible, and that's okay! Just remember to use these steps as basic guidelines, not hard rules. It's all about playing around to find the perfect combination for your photos.

       I use an app on my phone called Color Story, but just about any editing app that allows you to adjust the settings will work. I've also used PicMonkey and the Apple Photos app in the past.

1) Take your photo and open it up in your editing app.

2) Go to the tab where you can adjust the settings of the picture.

3) Next, turn up 'Clarity', 'Contrast', and 'Brightness'. Remember, a little goes a long way. Clarity will make your photo a little crisper, while contrast and brightness will brighten up the pictures.

4) I will then scroll over and turn up 'Saturation', 'Exposure', and 'Sharpen'. Saturation and vibrancy both help the colors in your pictures to pop. I only used saturation on this particular photo because vibrancy makes reds and pinks super bright and it didn't look good with my journal. Exposure brightens up your photo, and sharpen makes it extra crunchy.

*Bonus Tip: If you go to the 'Saved' tab and save the steps you just did as a filter, you won't have to the all the steps leading up to here ever again. This works great if you take your photos in the same location and the lighting stays about the same. Then, in the future, you will only have to crop your photos. #timesaver

5) Now, go back to the 'Tools' tab and tap on 'Crop & Frame'. Here we're going to work with 'Tilt' to angle the photo just right and 'Crop' to get rid of unnecessary edges. I also like to work with 'Perspective' when I'm dealing with flat lays if I find that my phone wasn't level with the floor when I took the photo.

       CONGRATULATIONS! You have received your (unofficial) Book Insider Certificate in Bookstagram Editing! Go out there and start taking pictures of all the books!

       How do you edit your bookstagram photos? Let me know in the comments and also mention what types of blog posts you would like to see me do next!

From behind her camera,
Ashton

Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
       Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
       As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

       As second books in trilogies go, this book ranks fairly high. As a book in general, it is just average. It had some interesting events here and there, but overall, this book didn't have anything that wowed me. I also think that part of the blame may go to the fact that I have been reading some of the Shadowhunter books in a row, with this one being number three on the list.
       First of all, I felt like there were a few subplots throughout the story that felt really unnecessary. There were some that really added to the story (shoutout to my boy Will for his amazing subplot), and then there were some that I felt could've been left out and I wouldn't have missed out on anything. I am not one for plots being over-dramatic, and I caught myself reading and thinking, "It's not that big of a deal. Get over it."
       One of my big issues with this book was the fact that I kept waiting for something big and climactic to happen, and I didn't really feel like that ever happened. I know this is because it is setting up readers for the last book in the trilogy, but I was really hoping for a grander ending.
       With that being said, there were a lot of things added to the story that I didn't see coming. I won't mention them for spoiler reasons, but there were things revealed about the characters and their situations that I couldn't believe. These twists and turns were what kept me on the edge of my seat and what made me not want to put the book down.
       I also appreciated how Tessa grew up throughout these books. At the beginning, she was terrified of every new person she met and wasn't really very trusting. Throughout the books, she has gotten chances to prove herself and really make herself known as a strong and independent woman. She is very respected in the Institute, and those little moments of courage really add to the story.

       Overall, I liked this book but didn't see anything super special in it. Let me know if you have read it already, or are planning to read it sometime soon in the comments!

From her Shadowhunter break,
Ashton

       Happy Fourth of July, my fellow Americans. If you're reading this from any other country, Happy Tuesday! The Fourth of July is, for me, one of the days that feels the most like summer. There are barbecues, pool parties, and just time to spend with the people you care about. So, I've come up with a list of four different books set in summer so we can keep those summer vibes flowing!

       I'm so glad I've gotten a chance to recommend this book because it's one of my all-time favorites! It's cute, fun, daring, and everything else you could want in a summer book. Morgan Matson does a wonderful job making you feel like you really know and relate to the characters that she creates.
​       This book is also perfect if you're looking for one to read with your best friend or book club. I actually read it with a few of my friends a couple of years ago, and we had so much fun with it! So if you're looking for a light summer read, this is the book for you!

       This book is another favorite of mine because it's cute, funny, but also tackles some real life issues, which really grounds the book in reality. But, even though it tackles some pretty real issues, there is still a ton of fun and lighthearted moments that really makes the book stand out to me. The characters are all so different, especially in Jase's family, they really keep you on your toes in both an action and dialogue aspect. Overall, check this book out for a great summer romance novel.

form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye. And then the journey of the pants — and the most memorable summer of their lives — begins.

       I read this book last year (because of a recommendation from my mom) and really enjoyed it. I know this book carries a lot of nostalgia with it for some people, and I could totally feel it in the story. However you are spending your summer, you will be able to relate to this book, probably in more than one way. If you want to read a little more in-depth on my thoughts about this book, be sure to read my full review.

       This book is an AMAZING summer mystery read. The only problem is that you have to go into this book knowing nothing about it. This book is so much better when you go into it completely blind. What I can tell you is that it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I just couldn't put it down. Otherwise, you have to just read it to know more.

       Those are my four summer books for July Fourth. If you have read any of them, or are planning to, be sure to let me know in the comments along with any summer recommendations for me!

Happy Fourth!
Ashton

       I picked this book up on a whim after only hearing about it a couple of times. I had just read Wires and Nerve, the graphic novel companion to the Lunar Chronicles, and really enjoyed it. So, I decided to try out a standalone graphic novel, and what a great decision it was! I am actually really into art, especially art that tells a story. This one, in particular, was so well done, I couldn't have asked for anything better. It was a quick, fun summer read, and it has also become one of my favorite books.
       First of all, as I was flipping through this book in the bookstore, I loved the style of all the drawings in the book. It really helps convey the emotions of the characters and the world in which they live. I also really liked how each chapter of the book had its own color scheme. This was one of my favorite elements in the book because it gave each chapter its own mood and helped to differentiate between settings and which characters were involved.
       Also, this book was hilarious. I laughed so many times reading this book, it's not even funny. (See what I did there?) There are so many little moments of dialogue that are the kind of funny that take you by surprise. The relationship between Nimona and Blackheart is perfect, and every scene they're in together was a great one. I also loved the unique relationship between Blackheart and Goldenloin. Both relationships are not what you would expect, which I think really adds to the quirkiness and comedy of the novel.
       I'm not sure if it was because this book was such a quick read, but I really took notice of all the little foreshadowing moments throughout the story. There were a lot of small things that happened where I thought, "She referenced that earlier," or "Someone mentioned something like that." Little things like that are what make a book go from good to great for me.

       Overall, this book was a great story about heroics, and what it truly means to be a hero. If you have read it or plan on reading it in the future, please let me know in the comments!

As she tries to turn into a shark,
Ashton